Monarchy is a political system that does not exist anymore in its original form. There are still a few monarchical countries (for example, the United Kingdom). However, their political systems differ from the traditional monarchy and, most importantly, monarchy as people would have understood the system in Jesus’ era.
Western modern society disregards monarchy in favour of democracy. This view, emphasised more intensely since the French Revolution, is built on identifying monarchy as a tyranny. Most people have seen the weakness of monarchy in coercion to obey the ruler’s will. Instead, they valued the personal freedom and the choice of the majority. Any legislation became an expression of people’s agreement, unlike monarchical decisions of a single person.
Jesus is not a political ruler. Jewish expectations saw the Messiah as the leader reestablishing the independence and greatness of their country in the time of the Roman occupation. Contrarily, Christ comes to Israel and introduces Himself as king, but the one who “bears witness to the truth” instead of being a political leader. In the Gospel, the Lord speaks clearly about His kingship and the Kingdom of God.
One of the tasks binding for the subjects of a king is to obey his commands. In the context of the Kingdom of God, Jesus speaks of those who obey Him as those who “are on the side of truth”. Again, Jesus is not a political leader. He is the one who comes into the world and who, with His Father, rules the reality in all eternity. It is not a dictatorship, as some people (sometimes unconsciously) would understand, particularly those who disagree with Christian morality. God, One in Three, is the ruler over the reality of truth – the objective reality containing true and unchangeable nature. God does not expect people to follow His’ whims’. The Father sends His Son to proclaim the real thing with rules or precepts that can help us live happily and select what truth calls us to choose – choose what is good. Jesus preaches to show people the way to salvation.
If we were to compare God’s Kingdom to our political systems, it would be neither monarchy nor democracy. It is not a democracy because the world’s order does not depend on what the majority of people think. God exists. The world exists externally. The objective reality exists. We can discover the truth of the world but cannot establish it. Nor is God’s Kingdom monarchy sensu stricto since it is not about Christ as a political ruler.
Our King always acts for the good and salvation of the people, even to the death on a cross. He rules with love, looking only at our good, not merely at exercising His own power. Let us be grateful for being subjects of such a good King.
Łukasz Gołąb – Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Sydney, Australia